Ticker

Netherlands to push for EU-level 'Magnitsky Act'

Dutch MPs Tuesday passed a motion tasking the government to push for EU-level and national-level 'Magnitsky Acts' against Russian and other human rights abusers in the next five months. Pieter Omtzigt, the MP who tabled the motion, told EUobserver the Netherlands might team up with Baltic and Nordic states in the EU Council. Magnitsky Acts, named after a late Russian activist, impose asset freezes and visa bans on egregious individuals.

Opinion

Sometimes in chess, a sacrifice brings victory. Theresa May should pay heed to the example of Slovakia's premier, Iveta Radicova, who sacrificed her job in order to get difficult euro bailout legislation through the Bratislava parliament.

The EU commission is giving more time to the Swiss government to endorse a deal that would put various sectorial agreements to access the single market under one deal. Nevertheless, after Brexit, the EU has had enough of exceptions.